Overview
- The fault in NATS’s flight‑processing system disrupted departures across UK airports on Tuesday, causing hundreds to more than 1,000 cancellations and delays that affected tens of thousands of passengers.
- Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham were among the worst hit as airlines and airports struggled to manage grounded aircraft and crowded terminals.
- NATS said it implemented a fix and that the system has started to recover but warned recovery will take time as airlines work to reposition aircraft and crews.
- Major carriers including Ryanair, British Airways and EasyJet reported large numbers of disrupted customers and cancelled services and told passengers to check with their airlines for updated schedules.
- The Civil Aviation Authority and ministers have sought assurances from NATS and requested a full report, with the incident renewing scrutiny of past NATS failures and contingency planning for UK air traffic control.